TEXT: Genesis 46, 47, & 48

1. SEARCHING OUR MEMORIES
   1. Discuss what you chose to do from last week's "Searching Our Lives" suggestions.

   2. How do you think Joseph is able to forgive his brothers after being put through such difficult situations?

2. SEARCHING THE SCRIPTURES

   Chapter 46:

   3. What did Israel do at Beersheba and to whom?

   4. How did God speak to Israel?

   5. What promises did God make regarding Jacob's going to Egypt?

   6. How did Jacob and his family travel?

   7. Jacob took all his offspring with him to Egypt.
      1. How many descendants did Jacob have through Leah?
      2. By Zilpah (Leah's maidservant)?
      3. By Rachel?
      4. Who was Joseph's wife that was named in verse 20?
      5. By Bilhah (Rachel's maidservant)?

   8. Of these 70 descendants listed, only two girls were named. Who were they (vv. 15, 17)?

   9. Why did Jacob send Judah ahead to Joseph (v. 28)?

   10. How did Joseph greet his father?

   11. Why does Israel (Jacob) say he is now ready to die?

   12. What does Joseph say he will talk with Pharaoh about?

   13. How did the Egyptians feel about shepherds?

   Chapter 47:

   14. How many brothers did Joseph present to Pharaoh?

   15. What part of the land did Pharaoh give to Joseph's relatives (v. 6)?

   16. What request did Pharaoh make of Joseph?

   17. When Joseph brings his father to Pharaoh, what does Pharaoh ask him?

   18. How does Jacob describe his life to Pharaoh?

   19. What district of Egypt does Joseph's family settle in?

   20. What else did Joseph provide them besides land?

   21. How severe was the famine in Egypt and Canaan?

   22. What did Joseph first collect as payment for the grain?

   23. When the money was all gone, what did Joseph then take in exchange for food?

   24. After the livestock was gone, what does verse 18 say the people had left?

   25. Which Egyptians sold their fields to Pharaoh (v. 20)?

   26. Whose land did Joseph not buy and why?

   27. How much of their crops were the people to give to Pharaoh?

   28. How did the people feel about the deal they were getting?

   29. 1. How long did Jacob live in Egypt?
       2. How old was he?

   30. What promise did Israel ask of his son, Joseph?

   Chapter 48:
   31. When Joseph learned his father was ill, whom did he take to go see him?

   32. How did Jacob respond to Joseph's coming?

   33. What story does Jacob relate to Joseph? (See Genesis 28:12-19.)

   34. What sorrowful event had happened to Jacob on his return from Paddan?

   35. 1. Where was his beloved Rachel buried?

       2. In contrast, where was Leah was buried? (See Genesis 49:29-31.)

   36. What physical ailment does Israel suffer from? (v. 10)

   37. 1. What unexpected action did Israel take in blessing his grandsons?

       2. How did Joseph react to this? (v. 17)

   38. Which son received the greater blessing?

   39. What last thing did Israel give Joseph?

3. MAKING THE CONNECTION
   40. 1. Was Jacob showing favoritism towards Joseph's younger son (as his mother had shown to him)?

       2. What is God's policy on favoritism? See Acts 10:34-35, Romans 2:11, and Ephesians 6:9.

       3. What should our attitude be? See 1 Timothy 5:21 and James 2:1, 9.

   41. How does God expect us to care for our families? See 1 Timothy 5:4, 8.

   42. Read Colossians 3:23-24. How was Joseph a good example of this in his service to Pharaoh?

4. SEARCHING THE HEART
   43. Jacob describes his life's years as "few and difficult." Discuss some of the difficult times you remember from Jacob's life.

   44. Joseph tried to correct Jacob in the way he was blessing his sons (48:17-19). How can we show respect to our parents even when we disagree with their decisions? Is this more difficult for us as children or adults? What about in regards to their interactions with our children?

   45. As you think back over Genesis, give examples of repeating patterns you notice (such as favoritism, sibling rivalry, younger receiving greater blessing, etc.). Discuss.

5. SEARCHING OUR LIVES (Choose one of the following to complete and discuss for next week.)
   46. How will you help meet the basic needs of someone in your physical or spiritual family this week?

   47. Joseph wisely managed the tasks entrusted to him by Pharaoh. What responsibilities has God given you this week that you can use wisely to his glory? (See Matthew 25:14-30.)

   48. Jacob's family grew to over seventy within his lifetime. Make a family tree, either of Jacob and his descendants or of your own family.